You Will GROW through it in Jesus name!

     I have been so blessed this past week during our church anniversary to witness the testimonies of so many who have went through trials, tribulations, even thoughts of suicide and God still brought them out because they stayed in the house of God!  I witnessed people first hand share how they cried out to God in their distress and He heard them and delivered them.  These stories were shared because they realized that it was their faith and trust in God and even their commitment to still go to church and worship, that caused them to GROW through it and out of it.  It was because of His grace and mercy and the love of the Father that enabled them to see themselves beyond their situation and HOPE for more! 

     I realized more now than ever that we are all real people with real issues serving a REAL GOD!  We can act like everything is okay all the time but the reality is that if it had not been for Jesus on our side where would we be! Most importantly, we need to share our testimonies and let people see how God He is. We need to witness to others about our salvation and how good it is to be in a personal relationship with Christ whom we serve, and how God blesses you when you stay in the house of the Lord!  That is true GROWTH; when you don't mind sharing how God has brought you UP and OUT for the world to see so that people may come to know Him.  All in all, Psalm 92:12-13 says it best, that "The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.  Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God".   

     Be encouraged today to know, that despite what you go through, if you stay faithful and come to the house of the Lord, you will GROW through it and flourish in Jesus name!

First Lady J
Author of Daily Professions
www.onewiththefather.org
1firstladyj.blogspot.com
Twitter @1withthefather

Our Worship to God is Everything!

Our worship unto God is everything!  It reminds us of His power.  It reminds us of His grace.  It reminds us of His love for us and that He will never leave us alone.  We need our time of worship with Him.  We need to experience His presence on a daily basis, wherever we go.  There are so many things that can hinder us from feeling protected, peaceful, covered or safe; tragic happenings, discord, and confusion that can make us feel as if we are on our own.  But God is in control.  He is right there every day waiting to direct us, comfort us, pour into us with His word, so that we can experience daily just how real He is!  David said it best "I would have fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living" Psalm 127:13. So, be encouraged today.  Despite everything going in your life or in this world,  know that He is with you, protecting you, keeping you and carrying you through.  Run to Him and spend time in His arms, in prayer, or even in song.  He is your LORD, your Savior, your matchless King.  You are His child, His creation, for whom He will do anything!

This I profess in Jesus name!
First Lady J

Author of Daily Professions

Twitter @1withthefather

1firstladyj.blogspot.com

EXPECT GOD to do Something Great!

      It is time to experience what God has for us...EVERY DAY.  We have so much to be thankful for, so much to be grateful for. We have a God that loves us, cares for us, and provides for us.  He wraps His arms around us, even when we don't deserve it.  He surrounds us with His angels even when we turn the other way.  And He continues to bless us even though we are not worthy of it.  This is August, the 8th month of the year and eight biblically means "new beginning".  Summer break is coming to an end, the kids are going back to school, and fall is on the way; yet there is something that God still wants to do in us.  Like the expectation we have for our kids to have a great year, we need to EXPECT GOD to start something anew in us!  Like a seed in the midst of soil, we have to be willing to rest in the very One who created us in order for it to come forth. God has so much in store for us! He wants to grow what He has planted in us, but we've got to let Him water us with His word so that what He has ordained can harvest from within.  He says in Psalm 1:2-3 that BLESSED is the man whose "delights in the law of the LORD, and in His law does He meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper." So, rest in Him. Stay planted in His word.  EXPECT HIM to do something great in you so that you can see the promises of God come to pass in your life this year!

This I profess in Jesus name!

First Lady J
Author of Daily Professions
www.onewiththefather.org
Tweet @1withthefather

TAKE THE RISK...BY FAITH!

     We just had our summer revival; a time of refreshing, renewal, and restoration!  One thing that we received last week was it is not faith unless you take a risk in obedience to God. In this day and time why not? We always have dreams, desires, and things we know we should be doing but a lot of times they never get done because we are not willing to step out on faith and do something different. Hebrews 11:6 says "But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of him that diligently seeks Him."

     So, take the risk!  As Dr. Ratliff said in revival last week, Hebrews 11 is full of believers who did just that "BY FAITH".  Do what God is calling you to do by just taking one step at a time day by day, BY FAITH. I am really talking to myself :).  God is trying to build a better you and a better me. Let's let Him do it as Pastor J says, "by His word".

This I profess, declare, and will do in Jesus name!  Pray for me as I pray for you :)

First Lady J
Author of Daily Professions
www.onewiththefather.org
Twitter @1withthefather

In the Midst of Tragedy, GOD REIGNS!!!

     In times like these, it has been hard to grasp and deal with the full magnitude of everything that's been going on.  There have been days this week as we have dealt with the shooting at Mother Emmanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston that we have all had to hold on to our faith.  We have just had to hold on to the fact that God is able to keep us from falling (Jude 1:24); from falling prey to fear, falling prey to doubt, to even enter the house of worship and glorify our God.  We have had to draw upon the very "well of water springing up into everlasting life" (John 4:4) that lives on the inside of us through Jesus Christ to give us a refreshing in the midst of such pain and despair.  It just goes to show us that as believers, this is why we have to stay on our knees.  This is why we have to stay in His presence.  This is why we have to follow His will for our lives because we don't know when our day will come or when our timeline on this earth will end.

     We have to stand upon His word, hold fast to the truth of who He is, who He has called us to be, and live for God.  Why?  Because we belong to Him.  In the face of the enemy, we belong to Him and nothing can take that away from us.  Romans 8:31 says "What shall we then say to these things, if God be for us, then who can stand against us?"; not man, not fear, not racism, not doubt and not even satan himself who is behind it all.  This is spiritual warfare and the battle has already been won through Jesus' death and resurrection, which is why the love of God has poured out so overwhelmingly this past week to show the world that even in the midst of tragedy, GOD REIGNS!!!

     We are His children and I have realized now more than ever that our lives are in His hands.  So, we must live, move, and have our being in Him. We must "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might" (Ephesians 6:10) and see the mighty hand of God transform the lives of people everywhere as we lift up His name!

For this I give God praise in Jesus Name!
First Lady J

Author of Daily Professions  

NEVER AGAIN!

In a day and time like today, it is the perfect season to say "NEVER AGAIN". There are so many things going on in our world from the war against terrorism, racism, violence, abuse, arguments over sexual preference to even horrific weather storms that are topping the charts. It can cause one to be wrapped up in an emotional whirlwind of times and people that are changing every day. However, God quickened me the other day and said you do not have to live based upon what the world does or what man says or thinks. You just have to live by what my Word says and by what I have established through it. I realized at that moment that God created the heavens and the earth and I am a part of what He created. Therefore, I never have to be overwhelmed, discouraged, or look to man for stability because God has not changed. Malachi 3:6 says "For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore you sons of Jacob are not consumed." So, I have to declare that NEVER AGAIN do I have to worry, or doubt, or fret when I can lean on the very ONE that is in control in the first place. He is the one who created me, established me, and has great plans for me, my family and for His people. I have just got to keep my eyes on Him, rest in His sovereignty and say to fear, doubt, and despair, "NEVER AGAIN"!

I pray this helps you this morning! Now, we just have to keep each other in check on that one :) Then we can rest in His joy, His peace, and in His protection because He is GOD and we belong to Him!

Love,
First Lady J

Author of Daily Professions

LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT...ENJOY IT! :)

I am realizing now more than ever that life is precious and it is what you make it.  We have to take the time to enjoy the One who gave it to us and the people we love!  There is nothing like peace in the morning, spending time with family, good food with great friends, and rest in His presence.  There is nothing like being able to eat your favorite ice cream, watch your favorite show, or listen to your favorite song, especially when you know you have given your all.  The truth of the matter is that we have a choice to make everyday.  We can either be overwhelmed, down, and depressed about our situation or circumstances OR we can be thankful, hopeful, and rejoice about the fact that God has given us life another day!  We need the peace that only He can give and it is awaiting us every time we open our eyes. We just have to be intentional and grab ahold of it.  We have to spend time in prayer with God so we can hear His voice, give our all unto Him in what He has called us to do, and make sure to balance the time needed to enjoy what He blessed us with in the first place.  I Thessalonians 5:16-18 says it best "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

This I declare for my life and yours in Jesus name :)
First Lady J

Author of Daily Professions